Across this latest batch of indie releases, familiar ideas take centre stage, but each approaches them from a very different angle. From a cartoon-inspired slice of survival horror and a retro action-platformer to a budget-friendly murder mystery aboard a moving train, these games all build on well-established concepts rather than chasing innovation.
Steamboat Incident review (PS5)
Steamboat Incident takes obvious inspiration from the now public-domain Steamboat Willie, turning its iconic imagery into the backdrop for a brief first-person survival horror adventure. Trapped aboard a small steamboat and hunted by a monstrous mouse-like creature, the objective is to gather the items needed to repair the vessel and escape before your pursuer catches you. The setup has enough novelty to make for an entertaining premise, but the story itself remains little more than a framework for the gameplay, leaving the experience feeling fairly lightweight despite its horror ambitions.
Exploration revolves around locating steering wheel pieces, keys, codes, a crowbar and the occasional health item while navigating the boat’s compact layout. The confined environment creates some tense moments as you weave through narrow corridors and search for hiding places, and the frequent jump scares help maintain a degree of suspense. Unfortunately, the stealth mechanics are undermined by awkward controller controls, an occasionally unreliable hiding system and a few frustrating bugs that can leave you stuck or even vulnerable when you should be safe.
Visually, the game captures an appropriately gloomy atmosphere with its dimly lit corridors and ageing steamboat interiors, even if the environments themselves remain fairly simple. The sound design also contributes to the tension through unsettling ambient effects and the constant threat of the creature stalking nearby, although neither the audiovisual presentation nor the scares are strong enough to elevate the game beyond a fairly modest horror experience.
The biggest issue is simply how little there is to Steamboat Incident. Most players are likely to reach the ending in around fifteen minutes, with minimal challenge and virtually no incentive to replay once everything has been seen. While the unusual setting and accessible horror elements provide a short burst of entertainment, the combination of technical shortcomings, clunky controls and extremely limited content makes this feel more like a brief curiosity than a memorable survival horror adventure.
Axel Quest review (PS5)
Axel Quest wears its inspirations proudly, delivering a straightforward retro action-platformer that borrows a handful of Metroidvania ideas without ever becoming a sprawling labyrinth. The story is intentionally simple, sending its hero after demonic invaders that have devastated his village, but that light narrative works well enough as a framework for the adventure. Rather than relying on plot twists, the game keeps the focus firmly on exploration and steadily unlocking new ways to push forward, making it an enjoyable throwback even if it rarely surprises.
The gameplay is where Axel Quest finds most of its appeal. Sword combat feels responsive, movement is precise and gradually unlocking abilities such as breaking obstacles, swimming and double jumping creates satisfying moments of progression. Equipment upgrades, merchants and character improvements add a welcome layer of RPG-style progression, while the ability to sell unwanted loot is an unexpectedly useful quality-of-life feature. At the same time, the adventure remains fairly linear compared to a traditional Metroidvania, with exploration often branching only briefly from the main route, and players looking for deeper interconnected level design may come away wanting more.
Challenge is another defining feature. Enemies hit hard, environmental hazards frequently mean instant death and earning enough currency for upgrades can require some grinding. Fortunately, generous checkpoints, frequent healing item drops and responsive controls keep the difficulty from becoming frustrating for long, rewarding persistence instead of punishing experimentation. Boss encounters provide satisfying milestones, even if their difficulty can vary considerably from one fight to the next.
Visually, Axel Quest embraces colorful pixel art that successfully captures the spirit of classic 2D adventures, while its retro soundtrack complements the nostalgic presentation without overpowering the action. The overall package may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers a polished and enjoyable adventure that understands its scope. Players expecting a full-scale Metroidvania may find its streamlined structure limiting, yet fans of old-school action platformers should find several rewarding hours packed with responsive gameplay and satisfying progression.
Murder on the Disorient Express review (PS5)
Murder on the Disorient Express is clearly inspired by classic locked-room mysteries, placing players aboard a train where a wealthy passenger has been murdered and the clock is ticking to identify the culprit before the journey ends. The premise immediately evokes Agatha Christie-style intrigue, and the game leans into that comparison with a wink rather than a straight imitation. Its cast of suspicious passengers creates a decent web of motives and alibis, although the actual mystery never becomes as compelling as the setup suggests, with several red herrings and some thin character motivations undermining the payoff.
The most interesting idea is the investigation structure. Every conversation costs time, while simply moving through the train does not, turning the case into a scheduling puzzle where being in the right carriage at the right moment matters. Characters move around according to their own routines, and uncovering the truth often means learning where key suspects will be at specific times. That mechanic gives repeat playthroughs a surprisingly strategic feel, and piecing together an optimal route through the night becomes more engaging than expected.
Where the game stumbles is in how limited the actual detective work feels. You gather information mostly through dialogue, but opportunities to challenge contradictions, press suspects further, or directly examine evidence are restricted. Important discoveries are often triggered by meeting the right character rather than by careful exploration, which can make the investigation feel more scripted than interactive. The final accusation sequence is straightforward and easy to follow, but it lacks the satisfying “aha!” moment that stronger detective games deliver.
On PlayStation 5, the presentation is functional but modest. The visual-novel-style interface is clean enough, yet the writing can be uneven and occasionally awkward, and the synthesized voice acting does little to elevate the drama. Some performances are unintentionally amusing rather than tense, which hurts the atmosphere of a murder mystery. Still, there is genuine potential in the game’s time-management-driven investigation system, and for the low asking price it offers a few enjoyable hours of amateur sleuthing – even if the mystery itself never quite reaches first-class status.